FIRST REGULAR SESSION
HOUSE BILL NO. 119
91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES CLAYTON, RELFORD, SHOEMYER, FARNEN, WIGGINS,
SCHEVE, BERKOWITZ AND DOUGHERTY (Co-sponsors).
Pre-filed December 11, 2000, and 1000 copies ordered printed.
ANNE C. WALKER, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
To amend chapter 208, RSMo, relating to old age assistance by adding thereto one new section relating to a pharmaceutical relief program for senior citizens.
Section A. Chapter 208, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be known as section 208.800, to read as follows:
208.800. 1. By January 1, 2002, the department of social services shall, subject to appropriation, establish a pharmaceutical relief program for senior citizens. Any person sixty-five years of age or older shall be eligible to participate in the pharmaceutical relief program and receive prescription drugs at no cost if such person:
(1) Has expended one thousand dollars on prescription drugs for that calendar year. If married, the one thousand dollar expenditure requirement shall be determined individually; and
(2) Has an income tax filing status of single, head of household, or married filing separate with an annual income of twenty-five thousand dollars a year or less, or has an income tax filing status of married filing combined with an annual income of twenty-five thousand dollars a year or less not to exceed a total combined income of fifty thousand dollars.
Eligibility shall be determined by the department on an annual basis. A person who is otherwise eligible to participate in the pharmaceutical relief program shall not be deemed ineligible to participate in the program based solely on such person's receipt of the pharmaceutical tax credit authorized in section 135.095, RSMo.
2. For purposes of determining the one thousand dollar expenditure requirement in subsection 1 of this section, the department of social services may require an eligible senior citizen to submit proof of such expenditures to the department in a manner prescribed by the director.
3. The department of social services shall contract with pharmacies in the state to provide prescription drugs to eligible senior citizens through the pharmaceutical relief program. Participating pharmacies shall be reimbursed by the department of social services for prescription drugs issued to participants in the program at a rate and in the manner specified by the contract entered into between the department and participating pharmacies.
4. Upon verification of eligibility by the department, the department of social services shall issue pharmaceutical relief prescription drug cards to eligible senior citizens for use at participating pharmacies to obtain no-cost prescription drugs through the program.
5. The department of social services may promulgate rules necessary to implement the provisions of this section.
No rule or portion of a rule promulgated pursuant to the authority of this section shall become effective unless it has
been promulgated pursuant to chapter 536, RSMo.
Missouri House of Representatives